Portable air conditioner



Nov. 8, 1955 P. MANISCALCO, SR

PORTABLE AIR CONDITIONER Filed June 18, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

ATT'YS PIETRO MANISCALCO SR.

Nov. 8, 1955 P. MANISCALCO, SR 2,722,310

PORTABLE AIR CONDITIONER Filed June 18, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIII Ii IIII E llllllllllllllljl r C 4 .5a. C lllllllllll IN VEN TOR.

PIETRO MANISCALCO SR.

BY AZWQM W 35 -mun ATT'YS Nov. 8, 1955 P. MANISCALCO, SR 2,722,810

PORTABLE AIR CONDITIONER Filed June 18, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR: PIETRO MANISCALCO SR ATT'YS Nov. 8, 1955 P. MANISCALCO, SR 2,722,810

PORTABLE AIR CONDITIONER Filed June 18, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG.I2 U 1.,

24 It 51: l. I 1 5 J r I i 5s FIGJFJ' \W 65 1 v I I so ATT'YS V 1955 P. MANISCALCO, SR ,72

PORTABLE AIR CONDITIONER Filed June 18, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent PORTABLE AIR CONDITIONER Pietro 'Maniscalco, Sr., Chicago, Ill.

ApplicationJune 18, 1954,'Serial No. 437,777

4 Claims. (Cl. 62-140) This invention relates to portable air conditioners of the generzal type that utilizes a refrigeration cycle for reducing the room temperature of the room in which it is placed and which can be readily moved frorn room to room and adjusted to suit windows of usual construction.

The main objects .of this invention are to provide an improved structural arrangement for air conditioners utilizing a refrigeration cycle forcooling the air of a room; :to provide. a portable structure of this kind adapted to :rest on-the floor and having ducts adjustably arranged for adaptation to any windowheight; to provide an improved arrangement of the air passages in an air conditioner in which the flow of air over the condenser and motor=con1pressor.unitis completely independent of the air flow over the evaporator and may be taken either from the'room or from the outside of the building; and in which the air that traverses the evaporator and is cooled thereby may be taken either from the outside or from the room; to provide an improved structure and location of the evaporator; to provide an improved louver arrangement for diffusing the air entering the room without the creation .of draft; and to provide an improved arrangement of the evaporator and condenser whereby any condensation from the evaporatorcoils will be collected in a container located therebelow and transmitted to a distributing center for allowing the same to be dissipated by the heat of the condenser or picked up by the .hot .air beingexhausted from the building while the machine is in operation without requiring any drainage connection outside of the machine housing.

A specific embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the device as viewed from the interior of the room in which it is installed.

Fig. Zis a vertical section of the same taken on a plane indicated by the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a partial top view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section through the louver system taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

.Fig. 5 is a similar detail on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged side elevation of the evaporator coil and its system of vanes for distributing air over a portion thereof.

Fig. 7 is a top view of the same.

Fig. '8 is a detail in perspective showing the room air circulation fan and illustrating the manner in which it can be swung out of the air duct for access to the same.

Fig. 9 is a detail in perspective of the system of piping that is employed for conducting an excess of water from the water pan of the evaporator and disposing of such excess water in the heated air of the lower chamber where it is discharged outside of the building.

Fig. 10 is a detail showing the thermostatic control circuit of the fan motor.

Fig. 11 is a detail of the-electric circuit of the com- 2,722,810 Patented Nov. 8,1955

pressor motor and the exhaust fan that discharges air circulated in the lower chamber.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the relation of the motor-compressor-condenser in position in the lower chamber.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view partly broken away of the air conditioner housing in its relation to the adjustable ducts which connect it to the window of the'room.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view taken from the left side of Fig. 1 and indicating specifically the location of the blower for the air circuit that displaces the heat of the condenser.

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the outside of a window showing the arrangement of air passages through the panel that -is inserted in the window opening for the receipt of the air 'duct nozzles.

Fig. 16 is a perspective view-of. a hood that is mounted over the outlet of the condenser air passage for conducting issuing air away from the adjoining air intakes that lead to theroom.

Fig. 17 is .a fragmentary .side elevational view of the globular portion ofthe airduct leading to the evaporator and disclosing the spiral air vanes.

In the form shown, the operating parts are mounted in a housing indicated generally by the numeral 20 and comprises a lower section 21 that provides an insulated chamber 22 housing the compressor 23, its motor .24, the condenser coil 25 of the refrigeration circuit and-the receiver '26 of the refrigeration cycle. The housing .20 also comprises the insulated Walls 270i an upper compartment 28 that contains the evaporator coil 29, the room aircirculation fan 30, its motor 31 and an arrangement of ducts for conveying air to the evaporator from a plenum chamber 33 locatedbetween the chambers 22 and 28 which has screened air inlets 34, for supplying air from the room to the evaporator 29.

The air ducts comprise a tube 35, an expanded portion 36 of globular form having-a series of internal spiral vanes 37 for imparting a whirling motion to the air leading to the evaporator coils 29.

The upper half of the evaporator coil 29 is provided with vanes 38 that continue the whirling motion of the air that =iscaused'by the vanes 3'7 so as to assure that the air passing the coil 29 is thoroughly cooled and further creating a'vortex in'the vertical axis of the evaporator.

The water pan 39 is located below the evaporator coil 29, which is partially filled with water and is also arranged to catch any water condensed from the air .in its passage over the coil 29, as well as any defrost water from-the evaporator coils. The pan 39 has 'a drain pipe 46) leading to one side and'terminating in a T 41 withfa standpipe 42 having a cap 43 at its upper end. A pet cock 44 connects to the lower branch of the T 41.

The cap and pet cock serve as a closure for the outer end of the pipe 40; but there is an overflow pipe 45 that has an upstanding siphon-shaped pipe 45 communicating therewith and having an air vent 47 at its bend. This serves to limit the level of water in the pan 39 and conducts away any additional moisture that accumulates in the pan 39. By reason of the vent 47 the pipe 45 does not siphon away any water gathering in the pan 39 below the level determined by the bend in the pipe 46.

Any excess water removed from the pan 39 through the pipe 45 is distributed by a horizontal pipe 48 through minute perforations 49 in an appropriate manner to cause. the water in the pipe 48 to emit droplets of water in front of the hot condenser coils 25, where it is evaporated or absorbed by the warm air passing through the lower chamber, as will hereafter be described, and passes out with such warm air to the outside of the building. Any excess water that is not evaporated by the condenser or the warm air is caught in the pan 50 that is located below 3 the condenser coils. Normally the water droplets from the nozzle header 43 of drain pipe 45 would be instantly evaporated by the condenser coils and the air heated in its passage over the motor compressor. Normally the heat in the lower chamber is warm to evaporate any of the water in the pan 50.

The refrigeration circuit is of usual type involving, in addition to the units illustrated in the drawings, appropriate piping which is only partly shown in the drawings, but it will be understood that there is a pipe connecting the pressure side of the compressor 23 to the condenser coil 25, a pipe 51 leading from the compressor coil to the evaporator coil 29, a pipe 52 connecting the evaporator coil with the receiver 26 and a pipe from the receiver 26 to the suction side of the compressor.

The interior of the housing is partitioned by the insulated wall 53 to provide a passage 54 connecting the chamber 22 with the air inlet 55 so that the air entering the inlet 55 from the outside of the building will flow over the motor 24 and compressor 23 on its way to the condenser 25. After passing the condenser coil this air flows through the outlet port 57, indicated in Fig. 14, which leads to the outlet duct 58.

In the form shown the side of the housing v20 which is at the rear, that is the wall 59, is closed except for the inlet opening and the outlet opening 57.

A fixed duct member is divided into two compartments by a vertical parition 61. These compartments are open at the top and communicate with the inlet 55 and the outlet 57 in the wall 59.

A pair of duct members 62 and 63 have telescopic relation to the duct member 60 and slidable relation to the wall 59, so that they can be raised and lowered. These duct members 62 and 63 have terminal branches 64 and 65 positioned to lead outward through a window to the exterior of the building. The upper portions of the ducts 62 and 63 are preferably structurally connected to move as a unit for raising and lowering them with respect to the lower duct member 60.

The movable outlet duct 58 has a motor driven blower 66 mounted therein, adjacent the outlet 65 which produces the air flow from the inlet 55 through chamber 22 to the outlet 57. The lower duct member 60 has a bypass opening 67 with a door 68 which may be opened manually to permit the blower 66 to draw air directly from the room, if desired.

The window opening of the building through which the air conditioner communicates with the exterior of the building is equipped with a panel 69 that is made of appropriate dimensions to completely fill the space below the window sash 70 and the sill 71 and this has openings therein through which the ends of the ducts 64 and 65 extend and also has an additional opening 72 with an appropriate closure, manually controlled for admitting air to the room independently of the nozzle of the ducts 64. One of these nozzles, preferably the exhaust one, is provided with a hood 73 which is turned to one side for directing the outgoing heated air away from inlets 64 and 72. Both nozzles are appropriately fitted with grills or screens, as will be understood.

In order to permit of access to the fan 30 and motor 31, air duct 35 has a hinged portion 74 which carries the fan 30 and its motor 31 by suitable brackets and which is hinged to the stationary portion of the duct 35 so as to be capable of being swung to one side, as shown in Fig. 8. The housing 20 has a door 75 in its outer wall suitably positioned to give access to these parts.

The housing 20 also has an access door 76 through which the pet cock 44 can be reached for manual draining of the pan 39.

As shown in Fig. 10, the motor 31 is controlled by a room thermostat 77 and as shown in Fig. 11, the compressor-motor 24 and blower 66 are independently controlled by a separate thermostat 78 located in the interior of the housing 20 so as to provide a time lag and keep the compressor-motor and blower 66 operating a short time after the motor and fan 30-31 have stopped.

For the circulation of room air, the middle chamber 33 is open on three sides to the room for the admission of air and these openings are screened and equipped with shiftable covers 79 which may be opened or closed as desired. The air from the middle chamber is driven upwardly by the fan 30 through the air passages over the evaporator coils 29 and out through the passage 80 controlled by louver elements 81 preferably arranged, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, to diffuse the outgoing air and avoid a direct draft in any direction.

It is to be especially noted that as the air is driven upwardly into the globular duct 36, it will be directed into spiral vanes 37 which cause the air to move in a circular-like direction and be delivered to the evaporator coils with a swirling effect. Since the vanes or fins 38 of the evaporator coil are positioned tangentially to the inside coil, see Fig. 7, further swirling effect is given to the driven air, causing it to form a vortex within the interior of the evaporator coil. The air will be caused to be empinged on and in the water in the pan 39, thereby having the effect of cleaning the air and removing dust particles, etc. that might be contained therein.

The air is then directed upwardly through the louvers 81 and outwardly into the room.

The cabinet or housing 20 is provided with casters 82 located in the four corners of the unit, whereby the entire unit may be moved from room to room at the will of the user. Since there is no need for permanent installation with this construction as the ducts 58 and 62 are adjustable vertically and may be quickly seated in any window of the house regardless of the height of the window ledge from the floor.

An electrical source of current is all that is needed as the motors can be connected thereto in the usual simple manner. The wires leading from the motors to a source of current are not shown, since it is an obvious expediency of furnishing power to the motors.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that the device of the present invention comprises an upright casing that is divided by two main horizontal partitions into three compartments located one above another, including an upper one which houses the evaporator coils of the refrigeration cycle and the mechanism that treats the air of the room, a middle compartment in the nature of a plenum chamber which takes in air from the room around its margins and delivers it to the upper compartment, and a third or lower compartment which has inlet and outlet ducts leading to the outside of the building and which houses most of the refrigeration cycle apparatus, including particularly the compressor, its motor and the refrigerant condenser.

This lower chamber also has a motor driven blower positioned with respect to internal partitions in the chamber to draw air from the outside of the building and circulate it over the motor, the compressor, the condenser and finally discharge it outside the building.

The upper chamber is internally arranged to form a passage for directing a flow of room air from the plenum chamber over the evaporator where the air passes in vortex fashion over the surface of a body of water so as to clean it of dust particles before being discharged to the room. The additional moisture, that is condensed from the air stream by the evaporator, accumulates in this body of water.

The invention has special provision for disposing of overflow, so as to maintain a constant level for such body of water and carry the excess to the lower chamber. Here such excess moisture is sprayed over the condenser coil where it is vaporized by the heat of that coil and carried away by the stream of outer air flowing through said lower chamber on its way out from the building.

The lower compartment is completely insulated, so that little or no heat developed therein will be transmitted into the room. The blower 66 is of sufficient size to produce a sufiicient outer air stream to carry such heat to the outside.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention is herein shown and described, it will be understood that numerous details of the structure shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a portable air conditioner, the combination of a casing, a pair of vertically spaced horizontal partitions dividing said easing into an upper compartment, a lower compartment and an intermediate room air plenum chamber between said partitions and open at one side, inlet and outlet window ducts leading to and from said lower compartment, a refrigeration cycle apparatus comprising a compressor and condenser in said lower compartment and an evaporator coil in said upper compartment, a vertical room air duct leading from said plenum chamber to an outlet at the top of said upper chamber, said evaporator being located adjacent the upper part of said vertical room air duct and comprising vertically spaced coils, a water pan in said vertical duct below said evaporator, a blower in the lower part of said vertical duct, spiral vanes in said duct between said blower and evaporator and terminating adjacent said evaporator and adapted to impart a whirling motion to the air flowing between the coils of said evaporator, and a second blower located in one of said window ducts for circulating outside air through said condenser.

2. In a portable air conditioner, the combination of a casing, a pair of vertically spaced horizontal partitions dividing said easing into an upper compartment, a lower compartment and an intermediate room air plenum chamber between said partitions and open at one side, window inlet and outlet ducts leading to and from said lower compartment, a refrigeration cycle apparatus comprising a compressor and condenser in said lower compartment and an evaporator coil in said upper compartment, a vertical room air duct leading from said plenum chamber to an outlet at the top of said upper chamber, said evapo rator being located adjacent the upper part of said vertical room air duct, and comprising a vertically disposed helical refrigerant coil, a water pan in said vertical duct below said evaporator, a blower in the lower part of said duct, spiral vanes in said duct between said blower and evaporator, tangential vanes leading from said spiral vanes into said evaporator to concentrate the airflow in a spiral vortex impinging upon water in said water pan, and means for circulating outside air through said condenser.

3. In a portable air conditioner, the combination of a casing, a pair of vertically spaced horizontal partitions dividing said easing into an upper compartment, a lower compartment and an intermediate room air plenum chamber between said partitions and open at one side, window inlet and outlet ducts leading to and from said lower compartment, a refrigeration cycle apparatus comprising a compressor and condenser in said lower compartment and an evaporator coil in said upper compartment, a vertical room air duct leading from said plenum chamber to an outlet at the top of said upper chamber, said evaporator being located adjacent the upper part of said vertical room air duct, and comprising a vertically disposed helical refrigerant coil, a water pan in said vertical duct below said evaporator, a blower in the lower part of said duct, spiral vanes in said duct between said blower and evaporator, tangential vanes leading from said spiral vanes into said evaporator to concentrate the airflow in a spiral vortex impinging upon water in said water pan, said water pan having an overflow pipe of siphon formation rising to a certain water level and then descending to said lower compartment, said overflow pipe having an air vent inlet at the crest of its siphon formation, and means for spraying water from said overflow pipe over said condenser.

4. In a portable air conditioner, the combination of a casing having an outlet port in the upper end thereof, a pair of partitions dividing said casing into upper and lower compartments and an intermediate plenum chamber, a refrigeration cycle apparatus comprising an evaporator coil, a motor-compressor and a condenser coil, a room air treatment duct between said plenum chamber and said outlet port, a blower in said room air treatment duct, said plenum chamber having communication outside said casing, said evaporator being located in the upper end of said treatment duct and comprising a vertically disposed coil, a plurality of spaced tangentially positioned vanes incorporated in the upper half of said evaporator coil, a plurality of spiral vanes on the inner wall of said treatment duct and terminating adjacent said tangential evaporator coil vanes, said motor-compressor and condenser coil being located in said lower compartment, a pair of spaced inlet and outlet ports in said lower compartment, a pair of spaced vertically adjustable exterior ducts cooperatively associated with said ports, each having a right angled horizontally disposed outlet and inlet portion for communication with the outside of the building in which the unit is used, said latter ducts having communication with said inlet and outlet ports respectively of said lower compartment, said condenser coil being positioned in front of said outlet port of said lower compartment, a blower in one of said latter ducts to force circulate air through said lower compartment, a water container in said treatment duct below said evaporator coil whereby when said room air is forced through said treatment duct by said first-mentioned blower it will be directed to said evaporator coils in a whirling motion and said tangential vanes on said evaporator coil will cause it to form a vortex to be impinged upon the water in said water container to supply humidity to the room, and an overflow pipe communicating with water container and terminating in a horizontally extending perforated member positioned in front of said condenser.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,954,455 Morse Apr. 10, 1934 2,163,691 Lichty June 27, 1939 2,251,960 Smith Aug. 12, 1941 2,268,451 Hull Dec. 30, 1941 

